Voters headed to the polls today to decide on more than a billion dollars in school spending and dozens of board of education candidates.

But it's unclear how a storm — which hit hard Tuesday afternoon and led to the Dutchess County Executive restricting travel in the Beacon, Fishkill and Wappinger areas — impacted the already-low voter turnout that historically accompanies school budget votes and board elections.

Earlier in the day, some districts reported fairly slow or steady voter turnout.

Dan Paradise of Highland viewed his trip to the polls as a way to exercise his "duty to vote." And he sees the impact of voting extending far beyond any single budget, school board candidate or proposition.

"It’s important for the next generation to have schools that are supported by the community," he said.

If historical trends hold true, the budget passage rate will be high and voter turnout low.

Since the tax cap was enacted in 2012, voter turnout has dropped dramatically. The tax cap limits a district's portion of the budget funded by property taxes (its levy) to an increase of 2 percent a year or the inflation rate, whichever is less. If a district wants to go over the cap, it needs 60 percent of voters to agree.

But contested board elections in 11 local districts may drive up turnout in some instances.

CLOSE

HIghland resident Larry Hammond had plenty to say about the May 15 vote.
John W. Barry, Poughkeepsie Journal

In Dutchess' largest district, Wappingers, 2,147 residents had voted by 6 p.m., according to district clerk Alberta Pedro. That's 141 more people than that time last year.

Travel restrictions for the area went into effect at the same time, so it's unclear what the final numbers will show.

Wappingers sent out a notice this evening to let voters know the polls are still open, despite "widespread storm damage."

In Arlington, 76-year-old Michael McCarthy said he's "eager to support the continuing quality of education," even though he no longer has children in the district.

Buy Photo

Mary DiLorenzo of Highland signs in to vote at Highland High School on Tuesday. Poll workers Patricia Winchell, left, and Angela Grieco assist her.(Photo: John W. Barry/Poughkeepsie Journal)

McCarthy said he voted in favor of the proposed budget, along with a $3.3 million plan to upgrade athletic facilities, and other propositions.

In the New Paltz district, 1,110 people had voted as of 4 p.m., said District Clerk Dusti Callo. She described voting as steady and said the numbers were consistent with last year.

In Beacon, resident Andrea Bacon pointed to enthusiasm over the race for school board seats.

“I think it’s really exciting that we have six people vying for three spots,” she said, “and it speaks a lot to how involved the community is in the success of the district.”

Millbrook voter Arthur Kascsak said he voted in favor of the proposed budget.

Buy Photo

A line of residents wait to vote at the polling site at Poughkeepsie Middle School.(Photo: Amy Wu/Poughkeepsie Journal)

“It was a reasonable budget,” said the 75-year-old Kascsak. “It should be approved so that the education system can be maintained in Millbrook.”

The Millbrook district announced it had canceled its Tuesday night meeting — many local districts hold meetings on the day of the vote to certify results — because of the weather.

In Wappingers, resident Art Day said he voted in favor of the district's proposed budget, as well as its capital project and bus plan.

"If we neglect the education of our children," Day said, "what are we?"

At Poughkeepsie Middle School, the morning rush started when polls opened at 9 a.m. Tom Dawkins, one of the first people in line, said he was inspired to vote because his wife is a former Poughkeepsie teacher and they are concerned about the school system.

"You've got to express yourself and your point of view," said the Poughkeepsie resident, adding it's important to those "who have the main interest of the kids at heart. Without education, we don't have a good future."

Buy Photo

Polls set up at Poughkeepsie Middle School on Tuesday morning.(Photo: Amy Wu/Poughkeepsie Journal)

Jeanella Dunkley, a school bus driver with the district, said she votes for every school budget.

"How the money is being spent is critical, especially if our children aren't benefiting from it," said Dunkley, who was educated in the district and has children who graduated from the district.

At Highland High School, the flow of voters was slightly higher than last year, according to district clerk Lisa Cerniglia.

Voting location change

The Webutuck district on Monday announced a change in its voting location. Rather than hold the vote in the high school gym, it will be in the Eugene Brooks Intermediate School gym. The intermediate school and high school are in the same building; voters are instructed to enter through the high school front entrance and follow signs to the intermediate school gym.

No local districts in Dutchess or Ulster counties are seeking to override the tax cap. The 16 districts are proposing an average tax-levy increase of 2.6 percent.

But there are contested school board elections in 11 of 16 districts, and more school board candidates running for seats than during any given year in at least a decade. And heated elections drove up turnout in several districts last year.

Voter turnout in 2017 ranged from 6 percent in the Millbrook and Wappingers districts to 16 percent in the New Paltz district. Meanwhile, a hotly-contested board election in Poughkeepsie led to a 76 percent increase in turnout from 2016, while in Rhinebeck, turnout rose 90 percent.

Estimates are based on the number of people who cast budget votes versus district-provided counts of registered voters.